His future as a Premier League star appeared assured and Tottenham Hotspur’s doomed pursuit, after four offers were rejected including a final bid worth £23 million, became the transfer saga of the summer last year.

Nobody could have predicted how it has since turned out, with the 23-year-old failing to play for West Bromwich Albion for more than a month while he has recently been placed on a special training regime to get him fully fit.